Transfer mechanism



Nov. 14, 1961 E. w. WHlTE ETAL TRANSFER MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 23, 1956 FLU l D PRESSURE SOURCE D' ll l ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1961 E. w. WHITE ET AL 3,008,216

TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 23, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1961 E. w. WHITE ETAL 3,008,216

TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 23, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A-rroRNgY Nov. 14, 1961 E. w. WHITE ET AL 3,

TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed NOV. 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 AFI'ORNEY 3,008,216 TRANFER MEQHANIETM Ernest W. White and Richard M. Goodwin, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 23, 1956, Ser. No. 624,022 4 Ciaims. (Cl. 29-25 19) This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of headlamps and the like and more particularly to a transfer mechanism for the placement of parts to be assembled.

In the manufacture of the all glass type of scaled beam headlamps, the reflector body is provided with metal ferrules which are disposed over openings in the body and imbedded in the glass to support the lead wires and torminals. In this operation accurate placement of the parts is required and the placement must be effected at a high rate consistent with the other assembly operations in the manufacture of the lamp. In the presently used technique of lamp assembly, turret type machines are employed for conveying the reflector body between operating stations. It is therefore advantageous to provide an automatic transfer mechanism synchronized with the movement of the turret for placement of ferrules on the reflector body. In this operation it is necessary to locate the ferrules on the reflectory body in a predetermined pattern according to the lamp design. Therefore, a transfer mechanism is provided which is adapted to transport the ferrules as a group in a predetermined pattern from a supply source to the reflector body. This is accomplished by supplying the ferrules to a receiver and utilizing a different transfer element for each ferrule and adjusting the displacement of the elements in accordance with the pattern. Preferably, this is provided by a lost motion connection between the transfer elements.

It is desirable to utilize a stationary ferrule receiver to facilitate ferrule supply from a fixed hopper. To permit this arrangement, there is provided a movable guide membar which transports the grouped ferrules to the reflector. Transporting of the ferrules is accomplished by a guide member having a locating element which registers with the reflector body and which has ferrule retaining means to deposit the ferrules on the reflector body. In the operation of the turret type machine in which multiple operations are performed, there is occasionally a failure of reflector body supply which results in an empty reflector support head on the turret. To prevent loss of parts, the ferrule transfer mechanism is rendered ineffective unless a reflector is in place. This is accomplished by causing actuation of the transfer elements only in response to the presence of a reflector in the succeeding reflector support head.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had from the detailed description which follows taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partially diagrammatic, of the inventive system including the transfer mechanism.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the transfer mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a view, partially in section, taken on lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view, partially in section, taken on lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view, partially in section, taken on lines 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention in a ferrule transfer mechanism for a turret type machine used in the manufacture of all glass sealed beam headlamps. As shown in FIGURE 1, the system comprises a horizontal turret or table It} mounted for rotation upon a vertical shaft 12 which is driven by an intermittent drive mechanism 14 3,698,216 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 through a suitable coupling 16. Disposed adjacent the periphery of the turret 10 are a plurality of reflector support heads 18 which are indexed sequentially into a dwell or idle station A and an operating station 13. A reflector body 21 is disposed upon the support head 18 in station B and oriented with respect to the support head by suitable locating lugs or the like. Similarly, a reflector body 20' is disposed upon the succeeding support head 18 in station A. Each reflector body is formed with plural bosses 1-9 which are disposed in a triangular array and each of which is adapted to receive a metal ferrule. It will be appreciated that each of the support heads normally carries a reflector body and is indexed into the stations A and B successively. The turret 10 is suitably provided with other dwell and operating stations for the performance of other assembly operations and, of course, loading and unloading stations are provided to ensure a continuous fiow of the reflector bodies through the machine.

A fixed support table 22 is disposed above the level of the support heads -18. At station B, the transfer mechanism 24 is mounted upon the table 22 by a mounting plate 26. As shown in FIGURE 2 the transfer mechanism comprises a support bracket 28 rigidly secured to the mounting plate 26. A ferrule receiver, designated generally at 30, is supported from thebracket 28 by plural support rods 32. A ferrule supply means or gravity chute 34 extends from a ferrule source or hopper, not

shown, along an inclined path to the receiver 30 to which it is securely fastened. As best shown in FIG- URE 3, the chute 34 is provided with a ferrule passage 36 having a cross-section corresponding to the longitudinal cross-section of the ferrules. Thus, the ferrules 38 are fed from the supply source through the passage 36 in a columnar array to a discharge end 37.

The receiver 3%) includes a channel or tray having side walls 40 and 42 and a bottom wall 44. Disposed within the receiver or channel 30 are a plurality of longitudinally extending transfer or pusher elements 46, 48, and 50. The transfer elements 46, 48, and 54) each include, respectively, a transfer passage or slot 52, 54, and 56. These slots are aligned with the discharge end of the passage 36 when the transfer elements 46, 48, and 50 are in the reference position shown. To cause actuation of the transfer elements, a pneumatic actuator 58 is mounted upon the receiver 3%) and has its piston rod connected with the transfer element 48 by a coupling 60. The remainder of the transfer elements are coupled with the element 48 through a suitable lost motion connection. This connection is provided between the transfer elements 46 and 48 by a lateral shoulder 62 on the element 48 which is freely movable within a slot 64 between the front and rear shoulders 66 and 68, respectively, on the transfer element 46. Similarly, this connection is provided between the transfer elements 48 and 50 by a lateral shoulder 70 which is freely movable within the slot 72 between the front and rear shoulders 74 and 76, respectively, on the transfer element 50. It is desirable to provide a suitable detent mechanism for transfer elements 46 and 50 such as spring urged balls (not shown) extending through side walls 40 and 42 at the forward ends of the elements to retard movement thereof until engaged by shoulders 62 and 70.

In order to transport the ferrules as a group from the receiver to the reflector body there is provided a movable guide member 78 at the forward end of the receiver. As shown in FIGURE 5, the guide member 78 comprises a lower plate 79 and an upper plate 81 interconnected by a pair of vertical side plates 86. The upper support plate 81 is affixed to a vertical slide 84 through the intermediary of an adjusting bracket 82 which provides for accurate positioning of the guide member 3 73 in the horizontal plane along either of two quadrature axes. As shown in FIGURE 2, the vertical slide 84 extends through the support bracket 28 in dovetail engagement therewith and is adapted for reciprocating movement to transfer the ferrules from the receiver 30 to the reflector body. The upper end of the slide 84 is provided with a shoulder 86. To bias the slideS i toward its lower position, a coil spring 88 is connected between the shoulder 86 and the support bracket 28. To adjustably limit the downward travel of the slide 84 a stop bolt 99 is provided on the support bracket 28 in alignment with the shoulder 85. Reciprocating motion is imparted to the slide 84 and hence the guide member 78 in synchronism with rotation of the turret by a rocking lever 92 which engages at one side of its fulcrum the shoulder 86 and at the other side'of its fulcrum the cam operator 94 which is afilxed to the shaft To transport the ferrules from the receiver 30 to the reflector 2? as a group in a predeterminedpattern, the guide member 78 includes plural passages 96, 98, and 100. These passages are disposed in a pattern corresponding to that of the bosses 19 on the reflector body and extend in a generally vertical direction in a divergent manner so that the lower. ends thereof are accurately aligned with the bosses 19. The cross section of these passages correspond to the transverse cross section of the ferrules to insure proper orientation thereof upon effecting the transfer to the reflector body.

The guide member 78 includes a ferrule release device 101 disposed in a rectangular housing 192 rearwardly of the passages 95, 98, and 100. Disposed within housing 102 is a slide 103 which supports a plurality of stop pins 104, 106, and 108 which extend into the passages 96, 98 and 100, respectively. The stop pins are secured to thevslide 103 by a suitable clamping bracket 110 for movement therewith. To impart horizontal reciprocating motion to the slide 103 a pneumatic actuator 112 is mounted upon the housing 102 and has its piston rod 114 connected to the slide 103. The guide member 78 is additionally provided with an aligning pin 116 at its lowermost extremity to ensure accurate positioning of the guide member 78 with reference to the reflector 20 when effecting the transfer of ferrules. a

To coordinate the actuation of the transfer mechanism 24 with that of the turret 1:), an interconnecting control system is provided as shown in FIGURE 1. In this system, the pneumatic actuator 58 is energized from a fluid pressure source 118 through a conduit 120, magnetic valve 122 and conduit 124. The magnetic valve 122 is nor mally closed and may be actuated to the open position under the control of a microswitch 126 connected thereto by conductors 128. The microswitch 126 is positioned adjacent station A and the operating member thereof is disposed in the path of the reflector body 26'. Thus, the magnetic valve 122 is actuated and the actuator 58 is energized in response to the presence of a reflector body in the support head 18 at station A. The pneumatic actuator 112 is interconnecter with the pressure source 118 through the conduit 130, the magnetic valve 132, and the conduit 134. The magnetic valve 132 is controlled by a microswitch 136 which is connected to the valve by the conductor 138. The microswitch 136 is actuated by a cam 149 which is driven by theintermittent drive mechanism ld. The cam140 is adapted to actuate the switch 136 and valve 132 and thus energize actuator 112 each time a support head 18 is indexed into the operating station B.

In operation of the inventive apparatus, consider that portion of the operating cycle in which the intermittent drive mechanism is advancing the support head 18 from station A to station E. Assuming that reflector body 20 is in position on the support head, the switch 126 will be closed thereby and the magnetic valve 122 will be opened to energize the actuator 58 from the pressure source 118. It is also assumed, of course, that the supply passage 36 in the chute 34 is filled with ferrules 33 and thus the gravity feed thereofpresents a column of three ferrules extending across the channel 39 disposed within the slots 52, 54, and 56. Energization of the actuator 58 causes the transfer element 43 to move forward and, after a lost motion travel corresponding to slots 6-. and 72, the shoulders 62 and 70 engage shoulders 65 and 74, respectively, causing the transfer elements 46, 48, and St) to move forward as a unit. In this for ward movement the slots 52, 54, and 56 are arranged in a pattern corresponding to that of vertical passages 96, 93, and 1% in the guide member 78. Therefore, at the forward limit of travel of the transfer elements the three ferrules in channel 30 register with the three passages in the guide member and drop into engagement with the stop pins 194, 106, and 108, respectively. During this forward travel of the transfer elements the element 5%} blocks the discharge end 37 of the ferrule supply passage 36 to prevent admission of additional ferrules to the channel. Upon termination of the momentary energization of the actuator 58, the transfer elements are retracted by the actuator to assume the position illustrated in FlGURE 3 in which the discharge end 37 is opened by alignment of the slots 52, 54, and 56 therewith. Thus the slots are refilled with the column of ferrules in readiness for the next cycle. 7

. As the support head with reflector 2i) is indexed into station B the rocking lever 92 is actuated by the cam plate 94 to permit downward movement of the slide 84 and guide member 78 under the influence of the bias spring 88. This downward movement is limited by the stop bolt which is adjusted so that the locating pin 116 just registers with the aperture in the reflector body 20'. Thus, the passages 96, 98, and are accurately aligned with the bosses 1h on the reflector. At this point, the cam 140, synchronized with the drive mechanism 14, closes the switch 136 to open the magnetic valve 132. Consequently, the actuator 112 is energized and the stop pins 164, 106, and 108. are simultaneously withdrawn from the passages $6, 98, and 100, respectively. Thus, the ferrules are released and transferred to the reflector. The rocking lever 92 is actuated by cam plate My to elevate the guide member 78 into engagement with the receiver 30 and the momentary energization of actuator 112 is terminated by opening of switch 136 and the stop pins 104, 106, and 1&8 are returned to the corresponding passages in readiness for the next cycle of operation.

It will be appreciated that the absence of a reflector in the succeeding head will be detected by the switch 126 which will remain open during the advancement of the head from station A to station B. Consequently, the actuator 58 will remain de-energized and the transfer elements 46, 48, and 59 will not be actuated and guide passages 96, 98, and 109 will not be filled with ferrules. Accordingly, due to the absence of a reflector body, there will be no ferrule deposit during the remainder of the cycle during which the guide member 78 is lowered and the stop pins are retracted.

Although the description of this inventionhas been given with respect to an illustrative embodiment, it is not to'be constructed in a limiting sense. Many variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will now occur to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ferrule transfer mechanism for placing ferrules on a workpiece in a predetermined pattern and comprising a ferrule receiving channel, the base of the channel having passages and displaceable longitudinally of said channel, actuating means connected with the pusher element corresponding to the most remote passage, a lost motion connection between the last mentioned pusher element and the remainder of the elements whereby the elements in their displaced positions are eifectively disposed according to said pattern.

2. A ferrule transfer mechanism for placing ferrules on a workpiece in a predetermined pattern and comprising a ferrule receiving channel, the base of the channel having a horizontal surface including guide means defining a set of divergent, generally vertical, passages disposed at their lower ends in said pattern, ferrule supply means having a discharge end extending through one side of the channel for conveying ferrules to the channel in a transverse column, a pusher element aligned with each of said passages and displaceable longitudinally of said channel from a retracted position to an extended position, said elements defining transverse slots which are aligned with said discharge end when the elements are in the retracted position to accommodate the column of ferrules, actuating means connected with one of said elements, and a lost motion connection between the said one of said elements and the remainder of the elements, the extent of lost motion of a particular element being equal to the longitudinal spacing between the corresponding respective passages whereby the said slots are disposed in said pattern when the elements are in the extended position.

3. In combination with a rotatable turret having plural support heads adjacent the periphery adapted to receive a headlamp reflector body and means for intermittently advancing the turret to index the heads sequentially in an operating station, a ferrule transfer mechanism at the operating station for placing plural ferrules upon the reflector in a predetermined pattern and comprising a ferrule receiving channel disposed above said heads, the base of the channel having a horizontal surface, guide means disposed adjacent the base of the channel and defining plural divergent, generally vertical, passages disposed at their lower ends in said pattern, a locating member on said guide means, ferrule supply means having a discharge end extending through one side of said channel for conveying ferrules to the channel in a transverse column, a pusher element aligned with each of the passages in said guide means and being displaceable longitudinally of said channel from a retracted position toan extended position, said elements defining transverse slots which are aligned with said discharge end when the elements are in the retracted position to accommodate the column of ferrules, actuating means connected with one of said elements and energized in response to the presence of a reflector body on the succeeding head to be indexed, a lost motion connection between the said one of said elements and the remainder of the elements, the extent of lost motion of a particular element being equal to the longitudinal spacing between the corresponding respective passages whereby the slots are disposed in said pattern when the elements are in the extended position, operating means actuated by the turret to lower said guide means to cause registration of said locating member with said reflector body when the turret is indexed, stop elements on said guide means extending into each of the passages therein, and actuating means connected with the stop elements for displacement thereof in response to the indexing of said succeeding head into said station.

4. A ferrule transfer mechanism for placing ferrules on a workpiece in a predetermined pattern comprising a ferrule receiving channel, said channel including guide means defining a set of passages disposed in said pattern and which may be aligned with the workpiece, ferrule supply means for disposing said ferrules in said channel in a transverse column, a pusher element corresponding to each of said passages and displaceable in said channel, actuating means connected to one of said elements, and a lost motion connection between the one of said elements and the remainder of the elements whereby the elements, in their displaced positions, are effectively disposed according to said pattern.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,549,296 Dilts Apr. 17, 1951 2,691,246 Roeber Oct. 12, 1954 2,698,987 McGowan Jan. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 7484,858 Canada July 15,

115,872 Australia Oct. 1, 1942 

